On March 15, 2016 the Commission’s Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/364 was published. This Regulation, which repeals and replaces the Commission’s Decision 2000/147/CE and its subsequent modifications, is already in force.

The main change is the modification of the lower classes F, F_FL, F_L and F_ca for which a new definition is included. In addition, the subsequent modifications of the original Decision are unified in the same Regulation.

In the repealed Decision, the lower classes F were used for those products with NPD (No Performance Determined) and for those which did not satisfy the criteria for classes E. The application of NPD in classes F was not in line with the definition of classes in Regulation (UE) 305/2011, nor with the criteria for the application of NPD in the declaration of performance.

For this reason, criteria have been established for the classification of reaction to fire for classes F (construction products in general), F_FL (loorings), F_L (linear pipe insulation products) and Fca (electric cables). The four classifications are also put together in a single disposition.

Tapani Mikkeli, from the European Commission, has passed on the following information to the Technical Board:

1. The Commission’s Report on the implementation of the CPR is at an advanced stage. It will be a condensed 15 page report which will not be accompanied by proposals for changes in the Regulation. The report will highlight articles and issues where there is room for improvement. Based on this report, platforms will be set up to tackle the challenges detected.
2. The proposal for a European classification of VOC emissions (volatile organic compounds) has got the green light. The preparation of a delegated regulation will soon begin. It is expected to be ready by the end of the year. It will be presented at the autumn meeting of the Standing Committee on Construction.

1. In accordance with article 67 (2) of the Regulation, the Commission will present this report to the European Parliament and the Council. To prepare this report, the Commission has carried out a survey for related bodies and authorities, as well as an online survey open to the sector’s stakeholders.
2. At present, there are several countries (e.g. Germany and France) with legal provisions on VOC emissions that use different classifications and criteria to regulate these emissions. The objective is to create harmonised VOC classes which can be used by all Member States, as has been done with reaction to fire and resistance to fire. For more information, see article Indoor air quality: VOC emissions in construction products in Europe (only available in Spanish).

At meeting num. 12 of the Technical Board, held in Copenhagen on May 24^th and 25^th, the state of each of the nineteen conversion works from ETAG Guidelines to EADs was analysed. Eleven correspond to the first set (priority A) and eight to the second set (priority B + 2 additional priority C). Check out the document on ETAG Guidelines used as EAD and their conversion calendar.

Regarding the eleven conversion works from the first set, one has been published in the OJEU, four are at the final stage; four are awaiting the Commission’s comments and two are at the final stage of the process.

On the four EAD proposals at the final stage of the process, which have received the Commission’s comments:

• EAD on Metal Anchors (conversion from ETAG 001 parts 1 to 4): a meeting was held with the Commission concerning this conversion and that of ETAG Guideline 029. A new version has been prepared and the adopted agreements have been added. These new versions will be sent to ECAP (European Consortium of Anchors Producers) for confirmation. They will then be sent to the Commission for verification and final approval.
• EAD on Bonded Anchors (conversion from ETAG 001 part 5): pending the Commission’s comments, once the proposals for the conversion of ETAG 001 parts 1 to 4 and 029 have been resolved.
• EAD on Prefabricated Stair Kits (conversion from ETAG 008): published in the OJEU, on 13.5.2016.
• EAD on Post-Tensioning Kits for prestressing of structures (conversion from ETAG 013): a meeting was held, but certain issues remain unsolved. Next meeting on June 10, after which the final versions will be prepared for approval, first by EOTA and afterwards by the Commission.

On the five EAD proposals pending on the Commission’s comments:

• EAD on Fire Protective Renderings (conversion from ETAG 018 part 3): still pending Commission’s reaction
• EAD on Fire Protective Boards (conversion from ETAG 018 part 4): still pending Commission’s reaction
• EAD on Penetration Seals (conversion from ETAG 026 part 2): pending Commission’s reaction
• EAD on Linear Joint and Gap Seals (conversion from ETAG 026 part 3): still pending Commission’s reaction
• EAD on Metal Anchors for Use in Masonry (conversion from ETAG 029): a meeting was held with the Commission to deal with this conversion and that of ETAG Guideline 001 parts 1 to 4. A new version has been prepared adding the adopted agreements, which will be sent to ECAP (European Consortium of Anchors Producers) for confirmation. They will then be sent to the Commission for verification and final approval.

On the two EAD proposals to reach the final stage of the process:

• EAD on Metal Anchors for multiple use for non-structural applications (conversion from ETAG 001 part 6): awaiting solution of the other ETAG parts.
• EAD on Reactive Coatings for Fire Protection of Steel Elements (conversion from ETAG 018 part 2): a new version has been circulated and has received comments from four bodies. At the Technical Board meeting, the comments received led to discussion and approval of the critical points. The Commission representatives also participated in this discussion.

In relation to the eight conversion works from the second set, one has already been approved at EOTA level, another will be sent soon for comments or approval, two have a draft in circulation for comments and the remaining four are at the beginning of the process.

Detailed situation of the Works

• EAD on Structural Sealant Glazing Systems (conversion from ETAG 002 parts 1 and 3): second draft circulated until May 15, 2016. Comments have been received from two institutes.
• EAD on Internal Partition Kits (conversion from ETAG 003): expert designation in progress
• EAD on External Thermal Insulation Composite System (conversion from ETAG 004): first draft circulating for comments from the working group.
• EAD on Plastic Anchors for ETICS (conversion from ETAG 014): approved at EOTA level, without technical changes. It has been sent to the Commission for comments.
• EAD on Three Dimensional Nailing Plates (conversion from ETAG 015): expert designation in progress
• EAD on Plastic Anchors (conversion from ETAG 020): in progress. It will soon be circulated for approval or comments.
• EAD on Falling Rock Protection Kits (conversion from ETAG 027): pending project plan
• EAD on Cladding Kits (conversion from ETAG 034 parts 1 and 2): project plan presented and adopted.

The working group comprises 10 institutes from Germany, Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Spain, Lithuania, United Kingdom and Portugal, and one representative from FIEC (European Construction Industry Federation). ITeC is the leader – convenor– of this working group and, as such, has elaborated and presented the project plan, which has been approved. The first meeting is scheduled for September 22^nd, once the first draft has been elaborated and the members’ comments received. This meeting will take place at ITeC’s headquarters.

The Commission’s Communication 2016/C 172/03, published in the Official Journal of the European Union on 13.5.2016, includes the following EAD:

EAD 190002-00-0502 is the second EAD developed by ITeC within the EOTA framework. The first was EAD 280001-00-0704.
These documents can be consulted in EOTA’s website (www.eota.eu), in section “Publications”.

According to the EOTA Secretariat forecast, a new publication including 5 EADs will be out in June, whereas another publication in August will consist of 15 other EADs. The latter may include EADs resulting from the conversion from ETAGs, depending on the Commission’s capacity to perform the documents’ final verification.

EAD 340006-00-0506 prefabricated stair kits, has been published in the OJEU. This EAD replaces ETAG 008. From the publication date, the EAD will be used instead of the ETAG for the elaboration and issue of European Technical Assessments-ETA.

EAD 340006-00-0506 covers interior prefabricated stair kits. A kit is a construction product made up of several components placed on the market under a common CE mark which are then assembled on site. In this case, the kits can be made up of: steps, landings, strings, handrails, barriers, fixing elements and coverings. The term prefabricated indicates that products are manufactured in industrial series production or on the basis of a prefabricated system.

This EAD enables prefabricated stair kits manufacturers to obtain the CE mark to place their kits on the market in the European Union.

• EOTA Technical Report TR 051 “Recommendations for tests of plastic anchors for fixing of external thermal insulation composite systems with rendering for use in masonry
  to be carried out on construction works.”
• EOTA Technical Report TR 053 “Recommendations for tests of metal injection anchors for use in masonry to be carried out on construction work”

Technical Report TR 051 is related to the ETAG 014 conversion. It includes the Guideline’s Annex D.

Technical Report TR 053 is related to the ETAG 029 conversion. It includes the Guideline’s Annex B.

The revision of EOTA Technical Report TR 038 “Assessment procedure for durability of thin metallic composite panels” has been approved.

The durability characteristics of the panels considered in this TR and the expression of its results will be included in the EAD resulting from the conversion of ETAG 034. The Technical Board has highlighted the importance of a good coordination in both works.

According to data presented by the EOTA Secretariat on 24.5.2016 in meeting num. 12 of the Technical Board:

• European Technical Assessment-ETA requests: 3.001
• European Technical Assessments-ETA issued: 1.760, of which 1.668 from ETAG used as EAD (Art. 66.3)

• ITeC has already two European Assessment Documents-EAD published in the OJEU. At present, it is working on nine other EADs:
  • Four have already been internally accepted by EOTA and the corresponding European Technical Assessments-ETA are being prepared
  • Two are about to finish the EOTA adoption process
  • The remaining three are at different elaboration phases

• Between 25.02.2016 and 30.05.2016, ITeC has issued three ETA, two of which are modifications and, at present, has fourteen under elaboration. The issued ETA are from the following ETAG and EAD (see EOTA’s website, under publications).
  • ETAG 017, on prefabricated units for external wall insulation (veture kits)
    • ETA 16/0194 FAVEKER^® ETICS of Gres de Aragón SA
• • ETAG 018 Parts 1 and 3, on fire protective renderings
    • ETA 12/0005 Perlifoc^® of Perlita y Vermiculita SLU (modification)
• • EAD 190002-00-0502, on dry floating flooring kit based on prefabricated interlocked units made of ceramic tiles and rubber mats
    • ETA 15/0131 Kerfloat^® of Azulev SAU (modification)

In accordance with Regulation (UE) 305/2011, all economic operators involved in the supply chain or distribution will adopt any necessary measures to guarantee that they are placing on the market only those construction products which are compliant with the Regulation.

They must be aware of the essential characteristics regulated in the Member State concerned, in particular importers and distributors.

In order to facilitate access to this information, Member States across the European Union have designated Product Contact Points for Construction, in compliance with Regulation (UE) 305/2011. Their aim is to provide information on the provisions within their territory aimed at fulfilling basic requirements for construction works applicable for the intended use of each construction product.

Consequently, any economic operator without the information on the countries where he intends to commercialize his products can use the national product contact points.

The list of contact points in each Member State can be consulted in the Commission’s website, under “National Product Contact Points”.

• EOTA General Assembly, Brussels, April 13^th, 2016
• Technical Board num. 12, Copenhagen, May 24^th and 25^th, 2016

• Technical Board num. 13, Coimbra, October 12^th and 13^th, 2016
• EOTA General Assembly, Brussels, November 9^th, 2016
• Technical Board num. 14, Brussels, November 30^th and December 1^st, 2016
• Technical Board num. 15, Innsbruck, April 4^th and 5^th, 2017